I’m writing this in the middle of a dust storm. I’m sitting in the caravan, free camping at Curtain Springs,abut 85kms from Uluru, looking out at the trees and the red sandy dirt being thrown around by the huge winds. The storm followed us all the way back from Kings Canyon today. We drove 220kms out there to do a 6km hike around the top rim of the canyon. The hike was spectacular. Strenuous but incredible. It’s one of the best hikes I’ve ever done. The first 30 minutes was pretty much vertical. But when you get to the top and start walking around the rim you forget about the effort and just thank God you’re alive and able to see nature’s spectacle. I’m so glad I did it. The drive out there is pretty spectacular too. As you approach Kings Canyon the last 50kms or so you have a huge escarpment on your right hand side. It absolutely magnificent rising out of the flat desert surrounds and guiding you all the way in.
We’ve been free camping here at Curtain Springs for the last day or so. Last night we met this wonderful couple from the Dandenong Ranges called Mark and Jan. We had dinner together and shared a couple of bottles of wine and talked about life, the universe and everything in between. It was such a great night. One of the best things about being on the road is the people you meet. People you would othewise never cross paths with. You share a meal, some vino, good conversation and you find out about their story, their life path and their experiences, and it just makes your own travels all the richer. It’s what makes this life so rewarding.
We leave here tomorrow bound for Coober Pedy with a little free camping in between. I do love free camping. Stopping somewhere without the confines of a caravan park gives you a much better appreciation for this country, its wildlife and flora. And I mostly enjoy the quiet. At night there is often such an absense of noise that it seems almost like something is missing. Being from the city you grow use to the constant urban sounds. Yes I definitely like the quiet.
